PREVALENCE AND DETERMINANTS OF POST-DURAL PUNCTURE HEADACHE IN CESAREAN PATIENTS UNDERGOING SPINAL ANESTHESIA IN DERA ISMAIL KHAN, PAKISTAN

Abstract

A serious side effect of spinal anesthesia, particularly for individuals who have had cesarean sections, is post-dural puncture headache (PDPH).  The aim of this study is to find out the prevalence and risk factors for postpartum depression in cesarean patients at Dera Ismail Khan, KPK Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was carried out from October 8, 2023, to September 25, 2024. 181 female patients between the ages of 18 and 59 who had cesarean sections performed under spinal anesthesia and subsequently developed PDPH were included in the study. In postoperative care units, organized questionnaires were used to collect data. Patients with confirmed PDPH were the focus of the inclusion criteria; patients outside of the age range and those with preexisting or intraoperative headaches were not included. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to examine the data using SPSS version 23 to find patterns and correlations. It was determined that 14.9% of the study population had PDPH. The size of the needle, the anesthetic agent dosage, and the number of spinal anesthesia attempts were significant determinants. Prevalence of PDPH was significantly correlated with needle size, multiple tries, and previous history of PDPH (p < 0.001). The use of larger needles and higher doses of anesthetic drugs increased the risk of developing PDPH. This study highlights the significance of attentive management during spinal anesthesia and the prevalence and contributing factors of PDPH in cesarean patients. Results indicate that using smaller needles, limiting repeated attempts, and providing anesthetists with appropriate training could all greatly lower the incidence of PDPH.

Keywords: Post-dural puncture headache, cesarean patients, spinal anesthesia, prevalence of PDPH, determinants of PDPH.